High Wycombe welcomed runaway leaders Windsor to Kingsmead, with Wycombe being only one of two teams to beat Windsor this season the away team came with revenge on their minds. With several players injured or unavailable (particularly in the backs) Wycombe handed debuts to Efan Morris (centre) and Alex Corrigall (prop). Whilst also able to call upon “crowd favourite” Craig Murray for his first start of the season for the first team.

The game started with Windsor on the front foot, after a big carry from Craig Murray his offload didn’t go to hand, and Windsor scooped up the ball. Wycombe were then penalised for a high tackle and the penalty was kicked to touch. Windsor’s efficient lineout secured the ball, but in forming a maul the ball was knocked on giving the home team a chance to clear their lines. Not to be deterred Windsor attacked again and although Wycombe’s defence held firm, the away team were awarded a penalty in front of the posts which they duly kicked, 0-3. Wycombe finally settled into the game and some strong work over the ball forced Windsor into conceding a penalty. A quick tap by Joff Forber put the home team on the front foot and an intelligent kick from Harry Tanner pinned Windsor deep in their twenty-two. Again, the accurate Windsor lineout enabled the away team to clear the ball, but a knock on in returning the kick fell into the hands of the Windsor number eleven. He looked to have a clear path to the try line, but some fantastic tracking back by James Outten hauled him down ten metres before the line, the offload was knocked on ensuring Wycombe survived.

Windsor continued to have most of the possession, but Wycombe’s defence was able to repel everything the away team threw at them and were looking dangerous when they got into the opposition’s half. Wycombe were able to capitalise when a precise kick from Matt Wardle pinned the Windsor fullback close to the touchline. With no angle to work with he decided to put in a chip kick which was well gathered by James Outten and this put the home team on the front foot. Some strong carries from both forwards and backs took play into the twenty-two where the ball was fed out to fly half Matt Wardle. He spotted a gap in the defence and a solid hand-off enabled him to get in behind the defence and although he was stopped short of the line, he offloaded to the supporting Harry Tanner to score under the posts. Matt made the kick 7-3.

Windsor had the opportunity to hit back immediately when Wycombe couldn’t take the re-start and possession was handed to the away team. After several phases an intelligent kick was put in behind the defence and fortunately for Wycombe Osian Lewis won the foot race to put the ball down for a twenty-two drop out. On the stroke of half time another Windsor attack resulted in the home team being penalised inside the twenty-two. Windsor’s fly half took the points, 7-6 and the half time whistle sounded.

Half Time 7-6

Wycombe needed a strong start to the second half, and this is exactly what they got. A high hanging restart was well gathered by the Windsor forwards, but in trying to work their way out of the twenty two the ball was intercepted by number eight Craig Murray. In realising there was no fullback at home he pinned his ears back and had the pace to score from 25 metres out, with the kick made 14-6. Windsor were soon again on the front foot when Wycombe were penalised for holding on. This set up a lineout close to the line, but more good defence forced the away team into making a mistake and they couldn’t capitalise on their good field position. This set the pattern of the second half with Windsor enjoying most of the territory and possession and Wycombe having to work hard in defence. When Wycombe did have the ball, they looked dangerous on the counter attack and a break from inside their twenty-two set Harry Tanner away. Unfortunately, the support couldn’t get to him quickly enough and the attack broke down. Wycombe were spending much of the second half resisting Windsor attacks and although they were working industriously a penalty in front of the posts allowed the Windsor number ten to take the three points, 14-9. Windsor continued to press but Wycombe’s solid tackling held firm but after some good continuity Wycombe were penalised inside their twenty-two for an illegal tackle and a good kick reduced the deficit 14-12. With not long to go Wycombe were looking tired and it seemed only a matter of time before Windsor took the lead but some heroic defending forced Windsor into making errors. Then with only 3 minutes remaining Windsor were awarded a penalty for a high tackle, with the kick just out of range the penalty was kicked to touch. A precise kick set up a lineout seven metres from the Wycombe line, with the ball secured the Windsor forwards set up a maul which was slowly edging its way towards the line. It looked as though Windsor would score but some industrious work from second row Laurence Webster enabled him to fight his way through the middle of the maul and get his hands on the ball and Wycombe were awarded the scrum. A solid scrum allowed Matt Wardle to clear the ball and with seconds remaining Windsor had one last chance from the lineout. Eventually more solid tackling forced the away team into knocking on and Wycombe came away with a richly deserved victory.

Full Time 14-12

An amazing victory against a very strong Windsor team. This was probably Wycombe’s best performance of the season although very different to recent victories. Wycombe’s defence was heroic and to prevent the runaway leaders who have scored over 600 points from scoring a try is a tremendous effort and the entire squad should be extremely proud of themselves.

Man of the Match

This award could have gone to a number of players but in attack Craig carried hard to get Wycombe over the gain line and scored the winning try. In defence he never missed a tackle often knocking back opposition players, a well-deserved award.

Craig Murray

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